A Change of Heart by Madisyn Carlin is such an encouraging, cozy read. There are so many threads of mystery, romance, and intrigue that had me hooked until the end! I really loved the Cinderella vibes of the book, almost like we were looking at Cinderella from a tangental perspective.
Here’s more information on the book blurb (from Goodreads):
She’s a grumpy baker. He’s a stubborn detective.
All Josephine “Jo” Linnd wants is to prove herself worthy of one day taking over her family’s bakery. Her aspirations are crushed when a seemingly random robbery lands her a bodyguard. It wouldn’t be so bad if said bodyguard didn’t aggravate her to no end. Nor would it be so bad if that irritating personality wasn’t offset by a charming smile and kind eyes.
All Detective Kaden McMartyn wants is to prove himself worthy of his family’s legacy. When he’s assigned as the opinionated and feisty Jo’s bodyguard, he sees his new job as a demotion. Still, despite her propensity toward being more like vinegar than sugar, he’s drawn to her giving personality and gentle heart.
But not everything is cookies and cupcakes. Danger grows, more attempts on Jo’s life occur, and secrets lurk just beyond reach. Can two people who mix as well as oil and water put aside their differences in time, or will evil gain the upper hand…and destroy the growing attraction between Jo and Kaden?
A Change of Heart is a Christian fantasy novel with Cinderella vibes, all the autumnal goodness, and the tropes enemies-to-more and forced proximity.
Ratings for A Change of Heart
Story: 5/5
Worldview : 5/5
The story picks up right away with Jo and Kaden being thrust together, unwillingly. Jo is such a refreshing personality for a main character; she’s grumpy, matter-of-fact, but she’s also really generous and loyal. I loved her banter with Kaden, and how Kaden was a great counterpart. He’s charming, kind, and humble (enough to put on a silly apron). They are so different and yet they struggle with the same thing: wanting to prove themselves.
The worldview with this novel was phenomenal (but that’s to be expected with Madisyn’s books, haha). I loved seeing the very human effort of trying to be worthy contrasted against what God says about us: that because He’s perfect, we don’t have to be. We can try our best, but failure isn’t to make life come crashing down. There were also other themes of family and standing up against immorality.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, this is definitely a series I’m looking forward to getting into. I already preordered book 2, A Change of Plans, which features Jo’s sister Temp. That book releases in 2025!
If you like light fairytale retellings, you might enjoy Tested by Sarah Carlisle, a Princess and the Pea retelling.
Book Information
Title: A Change of Heart (Hearts of Avarin #1)
Author: Madisyn Carlin
Release date: November 23, 2024
Genres: Fairytale, Romance, Mystery
Age Range: 13+
Content warnings/notes: Brief descriptions of peril, violence, and torture.
